Why plastic bags are better than you thought
Paper or plastic? It’s a question heard in stores around the country. As eco-awareness grows, communities across the U.S. are thinking about the full environmental impact of that choice. In an effort to reduce litter, for instance, San Francisco has implemented a limited ban on plastic bags, mandating the use of alternatives like paper or biodegradable bags. It is the only city to do so, however. Other areas have considered this, but recent studies reveal that plastic bag bans are not a “best” environmental choice and in fact, lead to unexpected increases in energy, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
In May of 2007, The ULS Report reviewed EPA data and independent studies that compared the environmental impact of various grocery bags. Their findings might surprise you.
•Plastic bags are more environmentally sustainable than paper bags.
• Plastic bags use 40 to 70 percent less energy to produce and generate 80 percent less waste.
• Plastic bags consume less than 4 percent of the water needed to make paper bags.
• It takes 91 percent less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than a pound of paper.
Plastic bags contribute less to greenhouse gasses than alternatives.
• Plastic bags generate 60 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than uncomposted paper bags, and 79 percent less than composted bags.
So what are concerned communities and citizens to do? Recycling is now seen by policymakers to be the more responsible choice, rather than bans. Some larger cities and states are leading the way with plastic bag recycling laws and policies.
California and New York City, supported by industry and environmental groups, have recently put plastic bag recycling laws into place. Sharon Kneiss, vice president of the American Chemistry Council’s Products Division said, “The biggest state and the biggest city in the nation choose plastic bag recycling because it makes sense for the environment and the economy.” Other states like Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island are also considering similar policies. “The growth of plastic bag recycling will continue to benefit the environment,” says Kneiss. “The facts are absolutely clear — plastic bags are the sound environmental choice. They are a valuable resource, too valuable to waste and are 100 percent recyclable.”
While plastic bags are not yet recycled in numbers equivalent to bottles and cans, the recycling of bags and film increased by 24 percent in 2006. The Progressive Bag Affiliates, which represents bag manufacturers and recyclers, says part of the problem is that not everyone knows plastic grocery bags are recyclable. Consumers, grocers and retailers need to be made aware of the financial and environmental benefits of recycling.
So what can you do? The ULS Report and the American Chemistry Council both recommend the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Reduce: Put more items in fewer bags and avoid double bagging. In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person would reduce waste by 5 million pounds in one year.
• Reuse: Use plastic bags as wastebasket liners; wrap shoes before packing them with clean clothes; bring them on dog walks to collect and dispose of pet waste.
• Recycle: Many grocers and retailers now have plastic bag collection programs. If yours doesn’t, ask the managers about starting one. Find out if your community has a municipal drop-off center or curbside program by visiting www.plasticbagrecycling.org.
For more information about the studies and what you can do, go to www.plasticbagrecycling.org.
What about …?
Grocery bags are not the only plastic bags being recycled:
•Retail bags (remove hard plastic and string handles)
•Paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap
•Plastic newspaper bags
•Plastic dry cleaning bags
•All clean, clear bags labeled with a #2 or #4
Some plastic bags have elements that are considered contaminants and could jeopardize recycling programs. Do not recycle:
•Food or cling wrap
•Prepackaged food bags, including frozen food or prewashed salad bags
•Wrapping film that has been painted or has excessive glue
•Bio-based or compostable plastic bags
Did you know?
•Banning recyclable plastic bags will not reduce our dependence on oil. In the U.S., nearly 80 percent of polyethylene, the type of plastic used to make plastic bags, is produced from domestic natural gas not foreign oil.
•In 2006, 812 million pounds of plastic bag and film were recycled. That’s enough material to make 1.5 million house decks, or 40 billion new plastic bags.